The cycles that define high school football never have been more evident to Carlos Meraz.

Meraz hopes the stability and success he has helped the Will C. Wood High School football program achieve are just as apparent in his fourth season as the Wildcats' head coach.

Meraz and the Wildcats get a jump on that season with a "zero week" game on Friday night at American Canyon.

"It's always exciting when you're just starting a season," Meraz said. "We're curious, because we have a lot of new personnel, but we had a very good summer.

"It's so different from last year. Last year, we were pretty junior-dominated on offense, but we were a veteran team on defense. Now we have nine starters back on offense, and a lot of weapons. On defense, we have a lot of question marks."

The young offense scored 241 points last year, an average of just 24.1 points per game. But the defense had one of the best seasons in Wood history, allowing only 221 points.

Both those totals could be up this season, and the Wildcats could easily improve on last year's 5-5 mark.

Meraz is 15-16 in his three seasons at the helm, the best three-year run at Wood since 1996-98.

Even more importantly, the Wildcats were 3-2 in Monticello Empire League games, the school's first winning mark in league since 2000.

A solid squad of 45 players will hope to improve on those records.

Leading the way is senior quarterback Tyler Bailey, who threw for 1,207 yards and eight touchdowns last year. Aaron Herbert is a solid backup, although Herbert will be asked to do much more on defense.

Bailey will have plenty of experience in front of him, led by returning starters Trevor McKenzie at left tackle, Andrew Galvin at left guard and Jalen Soto at right tackle. Junior Gabe Moya will move into the center spot, and junior Alex Benning will start at right guard.

Wood lost leading rusher Jonathan Camacho and others to graduation. Meraz may use a running back-by-committee approach, led by sophomore speedster Damon Lewis. Senior Tim Beall and junior Julian Cendejas also should see action.

Ryan Nules should provide solid blocking and good hands at tight end.

Bailey also has veteran targets in senior receivers Roddrick Douglas and Damon Gidron. Sophomore Arthur Jackson also will be utilized.

On defense, Herbert will move into the outside linebacker spot vacated by Josh Winters, who is now at Sac State.

"Those are some big shoes to fill," Meraz said. "If you look at that position the last three years, we've had Jedediah Perthes-Cox, (Bryan) Stansbury and Josh. That's pretty good."

Herbert will get plenty of help at linebacker from Ian Norton, Alex Benning, Frederick Douglas, Dominic Wickliff and others.

Nules and Moya give Wood solid line play at defensive end. Seniors Derrick Diaz and David Tkach are the tackles, with Alec Chapman and James Brink also in the mix on the line.

Desmond McIver and Beall both are back as defensive backs, and Grant Hilyer and Cendejas may join them in the backfield.

Meraz also has plenty of options in both backfields.

"We've got some speed," he said. "We may not have a whole lot of size, but we're going to have some weapons."

Nules will handle the punting, and Adam Cunning is the place-kicker.

After Friday's opener, the Wildcats will play at Pioneer of Woodland next week. They finally open the home season with a Saturday night special against Vanden on Sept. 21 at Tom Zunino Stadium.

Homecoming is set for Sept. 27 against Benicia, with the MEL opener Oct. 11 at Armijo.